The Chicago Bears Calvin Ridley storyline is nothing new. They’ve been connected to the Alabama wide receiver in one way or another since the regular season ended back in January. It wasn’t hard to do for experts. Ridley was and remains the projected best receiver in the 2018 draft class. Chicago finished the year as the worst passing offense in the NFL. It’s a basically putting two and two together.
Adding in the fact that Ridley is a self-proclaimed Bears fan? It’s too easy. That said, the Bears remain tight-lipped regarding what their exact plans for the draft are. It’s no surprise. GM Ryan Pace is notorious for keeping absolute secrecy in regards to the player he may have in mind for his first pick. That’s why recent news coming out should be taken with a grain of salt.
@Gil_Brandt on @SiriusXMNFL said the #Bears had dinner with Alabama WR Calvin Ridley last night before his pro day.
If I’m not mistaken, that would be the team’s first private meeting.
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) March 8, 2018
A private meeting is always a part of college pro days, but a private dinner meeting? That would at least suggest the Bears have a significant interest in Ridley. Again, this is no surprise. At the same time, does the fact, Gil Brandt, learning this information actually decrease the credibility of Chicago actually drafting him?
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Chicago Bears Calvin Ridley buzz is a perfect cover story for Ryan Pace
This is likely a homework move by the Bears. They’ll be meeting with several players privately over the next couple weeks. The fact that it’s Ridley just makes it easier to assume. He is more talented than any receiver the team has on the roster at present. He’s athletic, quick, fast and boasts a strong pair of hands. He also showcased an ability to produce despite being heavily game planned against.
So why can’t he be taken seriously as a true target for the Bears at #8 overall? Mostly because none of this fits the “Pace Profile.” One thing about the Bears GM is he tends to target physical specimens in the first round. He likes to take calculated risks on high physical traits. Ridley may be quick and fast but he’s not special in either category and is also a pedestrian 6’1″. There’s also the fact that he’ll be 24-years old in December.
Then there’s the simple fact that Brandt caught wind of the meeting. If the Bears were serious about Ridley, that sort of information would never have gotten out. After all, they went to insane lengths to keep their meetings with Mitch Trubisky secret last year. It feels like this revelation is a carefully planted leak by the Bears to keep other teams off the scent of who they’re really targeting.
